Knitting machine



||. E.. HousEMAN l 2,180,709 I Nov. 2l, 1939.

' KNITTING MACHINE File@ sept. 27, 1958 r` 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 rif Nov. 2l, .1939.. A |-l, -"E,v HOUSEMAN 2,180,709 A' KNITTING' MACHINE v l ,Filed sept'. 27,1958 2 sheets-snee@ 2' wmf. am@ #mm v- A /fra 44ers.

Patented Nov. 21, 1939 2,180,709v KNITTmG MACHINE Harold E. Houseman, Laconia, N, H., assigner to l Scott & Williams, Inc., Laconia, N. H., a cor-v poration of Massachusetts Application September 27, 1938, Serial No. 231,855

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a knitting machine, and particularly to striping devices for such machine.

In the past it has been customary to run the same striping sequence throughout the stocking, but the result of such practice isnot nearly as volving generally a considerably more elaboratel 16 design than that embodied in the leg. In the past, attempts have been made to obtain contrasting designs by causing yarn changes in the cuif to be controlled from the main pattern disc or drum while the yarn changes in the leg and tern chain or similar device having a fairly large number of steps. However, all machines have only a limited number of positions on the main drum available for yarn changing, and consemanner are quite Hunted and not nearly -orate asis generally desirable.

In accordance with the present invention, pattern devices, each capable of a quite unlimited number of steps, are conjointly used in the machinev with the provision of means whereby the yarn changes may be controlled selectively by one or the other. In effecting such result, the invention relates to the provision of simple means as elabwhereby they mayy eifect their individual con-A trols without any great duplication of mechanical parts and Without interference with each other. Additionally, the invention contemplates the "provision of means for timing said devices during the formation of a portion of a stocking in which the pattern yarn changing is not taking place so as to cause both of the pattern devices to reach predetermined initial positions.

While the invention will be particularly described with reference 'to the provision of two patterndevices, it will be obvious that it may be extended to the provision of more than'two such devices without any more elaboration than additional duplication of parts and provision for ad ditional control steps in effecting the selection of any one of such devices.

The above and other objects, particularly refI lating to details of construction, will be apparent.

from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

foot have been controlled from the usual pat-4 quently, striping eifects in the cui made in this Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of certain yarn changing elements of a knitting machine; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the yarn changing means together with the pattern chains and their associated mechanisms;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation showing the pattern chain following devices and an ele-` ment controlled thereby for effecting proper selection of yarns; and

Figure 4 is a plan view, also of fragmentary nature, of the devices illustrated in Figure 3.

While the invention is applicable to various yarn changing arrangements, it will be described specifically with reference to yarn changing devices ofthe type illustrated in my prior Patent 1,769,580, dated July 1, 1930. Inasmuch as the majority of the elements disclosed in the drawings are of substantially the type illustrated in such patent, it will suilice to point out the pri;- mary elements of the yarn changing mechanism,

with reference to the patent for details Vof cons illustrated, the more elaborate patterning meansdisclosed in this application will permit proper control of and effective use to be made of a larger number of such lingers, and in the present application there are illustrated in Figure 2 elements capable of controlling six of such nngers. 'I'he yarn lingers are provided with teeth engageable with teeth on individual levers 8, which are controlled by means of individual upright levers I0, in turn controlled by dep-ending arms of va series of levers I2. Mounted on an 'upright extension I6 of an oscillating arm l1 are a series of de- 4vices I4 of which there is one for each of the yarn lingers. These devices, which aresuitably controlled by a selector element, may take either lower positions under the action of individual springs or upper 'positions against stops 28, and Ain the latter elect the lowering of their respective yarn lingers into active positions. `When any yarn finger is being lowered into active position, a lever I8 pivoted on the extension I6 is rocked counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure 1, serving to engage a lever 20 which causes rocking of a bracket' 24 carrying detent members 26 which normally hold the yarn lingers in either position to which they are moved. By the release of the detents 26 all yarn ngers, except the one which is being put into action, are removed from action so that a yarn change will take place.

The lever I1 is oscillated by engagement with a. cam rotated in time with the needle cylinder so as to make one revolution for each revolution of the needle cylinder. its free end a pawl 30 adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet 32 so as to advance step by step at each revolution of the needle cylinderthe drum 34 carrying the pattern chains 36 and 38. Pattern chain 36 is provided with lugs 40 and pattern chain 38 with lugs 42. These lugs 40 and 42 may be of six different heights so as to control the selection of yarn fingers. Thev chain 38 is also provided with a timing pin 44, to which reference will be made hereafter.

Mounted to move about a horizontal axis behind the devices I4 there is a selector arm 50 on which is pivoted a selector element urged in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1 by a spring 48. When the element 46 is behind any of the devices I4, and the devices I4 are rocked toward it, it will cause the device with which it is aligned to move upwardly so that when the reverse stroke of this device occurs a yarn change will be effected. .The lever 50 is rocked to locate the element behind various ones of the selective elements I4 by engagement of a4 screw 54 carried thereby with an extension 56 of a lever 58, which is pivoted at 60 to the frame of the machine. The lever 58`has an extension, indicated at 62, adapted to be acted upon by suitable cams on the main pattern drum 64 of the machine. f

The above outline description of various elements is merely a brief resum of the construction and operation of devices which are more fully described and illustrated in my prior patent .referred to above. The only exception is the provision of a pair of chains 36 and 38 on the drum 34 instead of the single chain on the drum illustrated in said patent. The lever 58 corresponds to the lever`60 of said patent, but is so arranged as to be alternatively acted upon by either the,` lugs 40 or the lugs 42 on the respective pattern chains.

Referring now particularly to Figures 3 and 4, there are illustrated therein those elements arranged for cooperationmwith the two pattern chains and accordingly involving a modicati'on of the construction illustrated in said patent. Whereas in said patent the lever corresponding to 68 is provided with a fixed follower lug adapted to be acted upon by the lugs of the single pattern chain, the lever 58 in the present construction is provided with a pair of followers, one arranged to be acted upon by the lugs of one chainand the other arranged to be acted upon by the lugs of the second chain. The first of these followers, indicated at 68, is pivoted to the lever 68 at 66, while the second follower, 12, is

pivoted to the lever at 10. The former of these followers is engaged and lifted to varying heights by the lugs 40. The latter is similarly acted upon by the luss 42.

The two followers are respectively urged by weak springs 14 and 16 against stop pins 18 and 8l, which limit their counterclockwise movements as viewed in Figure 3. To the lever 58 above its pivot 60 there ispivoted at 82 a. bracket 84. which carriesa lower adjustable abutment screw 86 lined up with the rear of the follower 88 and an upper abutment screw 88 lined up with the rear of the follower 12. These abutment The arm I1 carries at' screws are arranged to be selectively located behind faces 81 and 89 of the followers 68 and 12, respectively, by movement of the bracket 84 about its pivot 82. 'I'he bracket 84 is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction by a. spring 9| against a stop pin 92, there being also provided a stop pin 90 to limit its clockwise movements.

The bracket 84 has a depending arm 94 at the lower end of which there is an abutment surface 96 adapted to be engaged by an adjustable screw 98 carried at the upper end of a lever |00 pivoted at |02 to the frame and provided with a follower portion |04 adapted to be engaged byv cams |06A on the main cam drum 64. The abutment surface 96 is so located that when the bracket 84 is in its clockwise position presenting the stop screw 86 t0 the face 81 of the follower 68, this surface 96 will be engaged by the screw 98 substantially at the axis of the pivot 60 on which is mounted the lever 58. Accordingly, irrespective of the psition `of the lever` 58 the relationship of the surface-96 and the stop screw 98 is maintained and the bracket 84 held in the position to which it will be moved by said stop screw when the follower |04 is released by any cam |06 and the lever |00 is moved counterclockwise by the spring |08, which is much stronger than the spring 9|.

From the above description it will be obvious how the two chains 36 and 38 may assume selective control of the lever 58, and hence of the yarn changing operations. During the formation of` the leg of a stocking, the lever |00 is not acted upon by any cam |06, and hence occupies its vcounter-clockwise position whereby the follower 68 is held in its lower position by the action of the screw 86 resulting from the clockwise position of the bracket 84. Accordingly, as the lugs of the chain 36 act upon the follower 68, the lever 58 is correspondingly moved to effect yarn changes. At the same time, despite the fact that lugs are riding under the follower 12, that follower is merely idly oscillated Without effecting any positioning 'of the lever 58.

On the other hand, when the cuff is being formed, a cam |06 serves to remove screw 98 from the lower extension of the bracket 84 and the follower 12 is then locked to the lever 58 so that it imparts its movements to the lever 58 and the follower 68 is idly actuated. In this fashion,

the control of the pattern may be selectivell" shifted from one chain to the other, merely lby a suitable cam or cams |06 on the main pattern drum.

Generally, the pattern used in thecuff will be considerably more elaborate than that vused in the leg and, therefore, the cuff chain may be substantially longer than the leg and foot chain. In connection with the timing of the chains for the beginning of a stocking, this imposes certain restrictions which will now be described.

The devices for timing the chains are similar to those illustrated in my prior patent, and will not be described in great detail. The timing pin 44, corresponding to the pin 55 of said patent, is provided on the cuff pattern chain 38. A bent extension ||0 is carried by the lever 58 to cooperate with this pin, which normally passes over its inturned end. Extending under the pawl 30 which actuates the ratchet 32 is a guard member indicated at ||4/secured to the lateral extension 56 of the lever 58 and normally, ,during all pattern heights of the lever 58, lying below the pawl 30v so as not to affect its driving of the ratchet 32. As illustrated in said patent, the

lever 58 carries at its outer end a pawl (not shown) designed to engage at proper times the ratchet 32.

By the arrangement just outlined, timing is ef'- By the action of a high cam on the extension 62 of lever 58,;

fected in conventional fashion.

62, raising the inturned end of H0 intov the pathv of the pin 44, but not disengaging the pawl 80 from the ratchet 32. The advance of the ratchet accordingly continues until thepin 44 engages l I0, whereupon it cams H0 upwardly, raising the lever 58 to such extent as to disengage the pawl 30 from the ratchet. 'Ihis stops the advance of the pattern chains at their initial points for the beginning of the next stocking. When the advance is to be continued, the pawl (not shown) at the end of the lever 58 is raised by the action of a high cam on the pattern drum 64 upon the extension G2 of the lever 58. This causes the pin 44 to clear H0 so that the parts are restored to proper position for a continuation of the advancing movements of the pattern chains as soon as the lever 58 is restored to its lower position.

It Will be obvious from the above that since the timing is controlled by a pin on the chain 38, it will be necessary that special precautions be taken so as to insure that the chain 36 is at the same time properly timed up. For example, let us assume that the leg chain 36 is composed of 32 links and the cuil chain requires 58 links in order to produce an elaborate pattern in the cuff. Under such conditions, 6 additional plain links would have to be added to the cuff chain me length of the1eg chain.

It will be obvious that the invention may be applied to control by more than two chains mere- 1y by arranging for additional selective positions of the bracket 84 and by the addition of one or more followers of the type of 68 and 12. By such arrangements, elaborate patterns may be securednot only in, for example, a cuff as compared with a leg, but within the leg portion of a stocking as well.

It will be obvious that other changes may be made in accordance with the invention without departing from its scope as deiined in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; means for selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarn changing means arranged to cause said feeding means to present their yarns selectively to the needles; a plurality of pattern devices arranged to control the yarn changing means; means for cyclically moving said pattern devices at equal speeds through a plurality' of cycles during the knitting of a stocking; and automatic means arranged to render either of said pattern devices operative -to control the yarn changing lmeans.

a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarn changing means arranged to cause said feeding means to present their yarnsselectively to the needles; a plurality of pattern devices arranged to control the' yarnchanging means; a common carrier for said pattern devices; means for driving the carrier for cyclically moving said pattern devic v through a plurality of cycles during the knitting of a stocking; and automatic means arranged to render either of said pattern devices operative to control the yarn changing means.

3. A knitting machine comprising a circular series oi. needles; means for selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarn changing means including a selector arranged to be variously positioned to cause said feeding means to present their yarns selectively to the needles;

a plurality of pattern devices arranged to control thev yarn changing means; and automatic means selectively connecting either of `said pattern de- .A vices independently of each other to said `selector' to control it to eilect yarn changes.

4. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; means for selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to 'said needles; yarn changing means including a selector arranged to beyariously positioned to cause said feeding means to present their yarns selectively to the needles; av

plurality `of pattern devices arranged to control the yarn changing means and cyclically moving in unison; and automatic means selectively connecting either of said pattern devices independently of each other to said selector to control it to e'ect yarn changes.

5. A knitting machine comprisingv a circular series of needles; means for selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarn changing means including a selector arranged to be variously positioned to cause said feeding means to present their yarns selectively to the needles; a plurality of pattern devices arranged to control the yarn changing means and cyclically moving in unison; and automatic means selectively connecting either of said pattern devices independently of each other to said selector to control it to effect yarn changes to thereby change series of needles; means for selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarn changing means including an element arranged to be variously positioned to cause'said feeding means to present their yarns selectively to the needles; a plurality of pattern devices arranged to control the yarn changing means; means for cyclically moving said pattern devices; a plurality oi' followers, one for each of said pattern devices, carried by said elements; and automatic means selectively providing driving engagement between said followers and the element for eilectingv selective actuation of said element by said pattern devices. y

7. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; means for selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarn changing means including an element arranged to be variously positioned to cause said feeding means to present their yarns selectively to the needles; a plurality of pattern devices arranged to control the yarn changing means; means for cyclically moving said pattern devices; a plurality of followers, one for each of said pattern devices; and automatic means selectively causing said followers to actuate said element for effecting selective positioning of the element by said pattern devies.

followers and the element for effecting se-l lective actuation of said element by said pattern devices, the last named means including a member pivoted on said element, and means for engaging and controlling said member irrespective fgthe position of said element.

*9. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles; means for selectively feeding.

a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarn changing means arranged to cause'said feeding means topresent their yarns selectively to the needles;

aplurality of pattern devices arranged to control the yarn changing means; means for cyclically moving said pattern devices in unison through a plurality of cycles during the knittingof a stocking; automatic means arranged to render either of said pattern devices operative to control -the yarn changing means; and means for timing said, pattern devices to bring each of them to a predetermined initial position during the knitting of a portion of a stocking involving no patterning under'their control.

1 0. A knitting machine comprising a circular Series of needles; means for selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarn changing means arranged to cause said feeding means to present their yarns selectively to the needles: ai. plurality of pattern devices arranged to cont ol the yarn changing means; means for cyclic llly l moving said pattern devices in unison tbl'uh a plurality of cycles during the knitting q fza stocking; automatic means arranged to reneither of said pattern devices operative to control the yarn changing means; and means fbi" timing said pattern devices to bring each oi them to a predetermined initial position during-the knitting of a portion of a stocking involving no patterning under their control, one

of said pattern devices having a number of steps' a multiple of the number ofy steps of another.

filiA knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles, means for selectively feeding 7 a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarn changaisance ing means arranged to cause said feeding means to present their yarns selectively to the needles; a plurality of patterndevices arranged` to control ths yarn changing means; means for cyclically moving pattern devices in unison through a plurality of cycles during the knitting of a stocking; automatic means arranged to render, either of said pattern devices operative to. control the yarn changing means; and means under control of one of said pattern devices for timing said pattern devices to bring each o'fthem to a predetermined initial position during the knitting of a portion of a stocking involving-M ngttemint under their control.

12. -A machine comprising a circular series'of needles; means for selectively feeding a plurality of yarns to said needles; yarn changm3 199m# #Umori-t0 cause said feeding means to prenant their yarns selectivelyto the needles; a pluraiity'ef'patterrn devices arranged to control thel yarn'- changing means; means for cyclicallya ,moving seid pattern devices through a plurality' -of "cycles during the knitting of a d y and automatic means arranged to render eithefof said pattern devices operative tu pli'trol yarn changing means.

13 A knittingl machine comprising a circular of needles; means for selectively feeding a plltlpf'arns to" said needles; yarn changing lucana arranged'to cause said feeding means to present, their" yarns selectively to the needles; means providing a plurality of sets of scslugntiallyfarraaged pattern elements to en'ect diifcrcnt'yarn changing sequences; means for CyilalLmoviligfsald sets of pattern elementsy tngugr-a 'plurality of cycles during the knitting ofa stocking; and ,automatic means arranged to render either.l of said sets of pattern elements operatlvgtozcontrql-lthe yarn changing means.

14. A knitting-machine comprising a circular series 4of needlesfjneans for selectively feeding a plurality of yarns, to said needles; yarn changing ni arranged to cause said feeding means t0,v theiyarns selectively to the needles; means pi'gyiding a plurality of sets of sequentiailylarranged'pattern elements to effect different yarnchvanging 'seguencem a common carrier for said setsfofpatt'grnllements; means for driving the carrier for cyclically moving said pattern elements through, a plurality of cycles during the knitting ofv a stocking; and automatic means arranggiwto render either of said sets of pattern elements operative to control the yarn changing means.

" HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN. 

